Carmel asking $1.22M to redevelop site in arts district

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The west gateway to the Carmel Arts & Design District on Main Street.
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Carmel is looking for a business partner to redevelop a site in the Arts & Design District that houses Hamilton County's backup 911 center.

The city owns a little more than a quarter of the block at the northeast corner of Main Street and First Avenue NW, directly east of Sophia Square. Hamilton County leases the city's 1950s-era former police station as a backup 911 center, which handles emergency calls if the main 911 system at the Sheriff's Department in Noblesville goes down. The rest of the space is public parking.

Mayor Jim Brainard said Carmel would like to see the site redeveloped into a multi-story building with upper-floor condos, first-floor retail, restaurants or offices and parking. The city, he said, will consider offering incentives. He's not sure whether the project will need a parking garage or surface parking, due to the close proximity of several other garages within the Arts District.

The city has issued a request to developers to submit proposals for the property by Sept. 19. The minimum asking price is $1,224,000, which is the average of two appraisals obtained by Carmel.

"We want it to fit into the area appropriately with good architecture," Brainard said. "It's off the tax rolls right now; the county can relocate the backup communications center."

Brainard has been encouraging developers to build condominiums to complement the for-rent apartments already open or planned within the city's downtown. Condos in the nearby Monon and Main development, which is under construction, are listing for about $1 million.

He thinks the site can accommodate 12 to 15 condos.

The Carmel Arts Council Gallery.(Photo: Star file)

The Carmel Arts Council Children's Art Gallery that sits on the corner of the property is not included in the sale. The tiny building was built in 1875 as a wing to a since-demolished home. It was moved to Main Street in 1975 and to its current location in 2005. It features the "World's Smallest Children's Arts Gallery" as designated by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1998.

"I'd like for that building to stay there," Brainard said. "Some developers have asked for it to move. I think it adds a lot of interest; it makes Main Street more interesting."

County Commissioner Christine Altman said the county has purchased a building in Fishers for a new backup 911 center and is preparing to move operations there in 2018. The county's lease at the Carmel site ends this year.

She said the county wasn't surprised Carmel wanted to redevelop the site along Main Street and is glad to have found a permanent location for a backup center.

"We knew all along this was a prime location, and we understand their desire to redevelop it and broaden their tax base," she said. "I think this is going to work out best for both parties."

Call IndyStar reporter Chris Sikich at (317) 444-6036. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisSikich and at facebook.com/chris.sikich.